Postoperative Hypothyroidism

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Postoperative hypothyroidism

Content:

• What is postoperative hypothyroidism?
• Reasons for surgery
• Why does hypothyroidism occur after surgery?
• Symptoms of the disease
• How is the disorder diagnosed?
• Treatment of postoperative hypothyroidism

What is postoperative hypothyroidism?

Postoperative hypothyroidism means a pathological condition that occurs as a result of surgery in the thyroid gland. As a rule, the disorder occurs after the surgical removal of the entire gland or its significant segment.

Disease prevalence

An ailment such as hypothyroidism is recognized as very common. According to research, it occurs in 20% of women and 16% of men who have had thyroid surgery. The risk of developing pathology increases in direct proportion to the patient's age.

Risk group

Persons already suffering from such diseases as:

• diabetes;
• anemia;
• goiter;
• renal failure.

Reasons for surgery

The main reason for removing the thyroid is papillary or anaplastic type carcinoma. Also, the need to get rid of the gland arises with the development of a progressive follicular tumor, which poses a threat to the patient's life.

Mechanical trauma, which creates increased compression in the neck, often becomes the cause of surgery. Goiter and toxic adenoma, which contributes to the onset of intoxication, are also usually treated with an operative method.

Why does hypothyroidism occur after surgery?

The main cause of the pathology is the suppression of the functions of the thyroid gland. The human body can be iodine deficient. Usually, newborn babies and pregnant women suffer from iodine deficiency.

Symptoms of the disease

When a disease develops, it affects all systems in the body. That is why the signs of the disease are complex and complex. This means that the person will suffer from a lot of negative symptoms at the same time.

Among these symptoms, the following are worth noting:

• violation of metabolic processes, which is expressed in an increase in body weight. Weight gain can negatively affect the circulatory system, cause violations of the walls of blood vessels, worsen their permeability, provoke atherosclerosis and exacerbate the risk of cardiovascular pathologies;
• failures of thermoregulation mechanisms;
• intradermal disorders in the face and body. Most often, external manifestations can be noted on the lips, eyes and tongue. They arise due to a delay in the intercellular and intracellular fluid, provoking edema. Dry skin, thickening of the nail plates, as well as the appearance of a yellowish tint of the skin are noted;
• violation of sensitive functions, expressed in dulling of smell, taste, vision and hearing;
• neurological disorders in the form of a decreased background mood, irritability or lethargy, increased sleepiness, rapid fatigue, decreased concentration of attention and the ability to remember. Signs of a depressive disorder develop, psychosis occurs, the onset of a coma is possible;
• violation of the cardiovascular system, namely, sharp jumps in blood pressure and heart rhythm disturbances;
• pathology of the digestive function, that is, stagnation of bile, enlargement of the spleen and liver, enzymatic dysfunction, nausea, loss of appetite, constipation, vomiting and flatulence;

• sexual dysfunctions, for example, menstrual irregularities, infertility in women or decreased potency in men;
• disorders of the respiratory system, expressed in a violation of the inhalation process during sleep;
• anemic disorders, for example, decreased hemoglobin levels and decreased blood clotting;
• pathology of the musculoskeletal system in the form of muscle atrophy and weakness, as well as disorders of the skeletal formation process in children.

How is the disorder diagnosed?

It is rather difficult to accurately establish the development of postoperative hypothyroidism due to the many diverse symptoms that can be attributed to various types of disorders. Nevertheless, thanks to innovative developments, modern medicine is able to accurately identify pathology.

The main purpose of the examination in establishing hypothyroidism is to identify violations of the thyroid gland. To establish these violations in a person, first of all, the level of such substances as:

1. TSH, that is, thyroid-stimulating hormone;
2. T4, that is, thyroxine.

Treatment of postoperative hypothyroidism

Treatment period

Hypothyroidism is considered a common complication after thyroid surgery. Medical specialists note that the treatment of this ailment should be ongoing. The patient will need to take medications throughout his life.

Medication

The main drugs that can eliminate the symptoms of the disease are thyroid hormone substitutes. Therapeutic treatment involves taking a course of hormone analogues that are secreted during normal thyroid function.

Features of L-thyroxine

The drug L-thyroxine is a substitute for a hormonal substance that closely resembles natural human hormones produced in the thyroid gland. The remedy effectively restores the functioning of the affected thyroid gland. The effect of the drug taken can be felt 1-2 days after taking it.

The attending physician may adjust the dosage of the hormonal drug depending on:

• changes in the patient's body weight;
• the onset of the state of pregnancy;
• the need to take other medications.

General projections

Doctors give positive prognosis for people suffering from postoperative hypothyroidism. Patients who consistently take prescription medication do not experience significant negative signs of illness. They are not limited in any way in their normal life.

The author of the article: Kuzmina Vera Valerievna | Endocrinologist, nutritionist

Education: Diploma of the Russian State Medical University named after NI Pirogov with a degree in General Medicine (2004). Residency at Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, diploma in Endocrinology (2006).